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Four games in five days are enough to test any high school baseball pitching staff.
Early in the season, it’s even more of an obstacle, but the Ely Timberwolves are finding out that their staff may be even deeper than anticipated.
Freshman Owen Marolt made the most of his first career start Tuesday at Cook, tossing a complete-game three-hitter as the Wolves pulled away for a 5-1 win over North Woods.
With the help of Marolt’s unexpected gem, Ely evened its record at 3-3 and rebounded from an 8-4 home loss to Silver Bay the day before.
The Wolves managed only four hits, but made the most of them and capitalized on just enough of the 15 free passes issued by Grizzlies pitchers.
They also played some “small ball,” with Sam Leeson and Jack Davies laying down successful squeeze bunts in the top of the seventh.
Junior Caid Chittum had two of the Wolves’ four hits and Ely scored a couple of times in the fifth frame on bases-loaded walks.
Marolt, meanwhile, went the distance and faced only 26 batters. The only run he allowed was unearned, and he only walked two batters while fanning eight.
• On Monday, unbeaten Silver Bay scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning, chasing starter Hunter Halbakken and reliever Brecken Sandberg to open up a tight game.
Chittum and Drew Marolt had run-scoring hits for the Wolves, while Chittum also scored twice and struck out six in two-and-two-thirds innings of relief.
Halbakken struck out four and allowed five earned runs and five hits.
• The Wolves split two games on a weekend trek to southern Minnesota.
They salvaged a split with Saturday’s 6-4 victory at Hayfield, rallying with three runs in the top of the seventh.
Chittum, Drew Johnson and Zander Lislegard all had run-scoring hits in the pivotal final frame.
Owen Marolt got the win on the mound, retiring six straight batters in the sixth and seventh frames.
He came on in relief Elliot Levens, who worked the first two innings, and Davies.
Earlier in the game, senior Deegan Richards had a two-run double and Drew Marolt doubled and drew four walks.
In the opening game of the trip, the Wolves were unable to hold a 4-1 lead and fell 5-4 in eight innings to Kenyon-Wanamingo.
Starting pitcher Drew Marolt left the game with a no-hitter, but was forced out by reaching the pitch count limit.
The hard-throwing senior righthander gave up three runs in six innings, but none were earned, and finished with eight walks and three strikeouts.
Ely gave K-W numerous opportunities by committing nine errors and the hosts scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on an errant throw.
At the plate, Drew Marolt had two hits including a run-scoring double, and Leeson singled and scored a run. Johnson also added both a hit and a run scored.
• The Wolves face an imposing opponent Monday in the form of defending Section 7A champion South Ridge. Ely returns home Thursday, May 2, to take on Mt. Iron-Buhl.
